Premier League Fixture Breakdown: Gameweek 35

Tom Fenley, our PlayON Pro and last year’s official Fantasy Premier League winner, takes you through the Premier League fixtures for Gameweek 35.

Sat 2 May 2015 – Premier League

Leicester v Newcastle 12:45

A remarkable four straight wins prior to the 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea means the Foxes now sit above the relegation zone. With three home games out of their final four matches, Nigel Pearson’s side will feel confident of survival. They also have several assets worth considering for our PlayON teams in the upcoming weeks, especially with budget price-tags enabling funds to be spread elsewhere in our squads.

The Magpies maintained their status as the worst team in the league on current form, after suffering their seventh consecutive loss in the 3-2 defeat to Swansea at St James’ Park. Goals from Ayoze Perez and Siem De Jong at least offer hope that John Carver can pick up some points before the end of the season.

Key Players: Esteban Cambiasso, Jack Colback.

Aston Villa v Everton 15:00

Tim Sherwood will have been disappointed to have conceded a late goal in the 3-2 defeat at the Etihad after his side had recovered from a two goal deficit against City. Villa remain only two points above the bottom three but provided another promising performance. First goals in a Villa shirt for both Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez show the manager has the team going in the right direction.

They’ll need a similarly robust display against a buoyant Everton. The Toffees 3-0 defeat of Manchester United was their fifth win in six. The pressure on Roberto Martinez has subsided and his side are beginning to show the form that made them so enjoyable to watch last season.

Key Players: Christian Benteke, James McCarthy.

Liverpool v QPR 15:00

The 1-0 defeat at Hull was a third loss in five league games for Brendan Rodger’s side, a run that has scuppered any realistic chance of a top four spot. The Reds have looked incapable of scoring without Daniel Sturridge, drawing blanks at the KC stadium and at West Brom in the previous match.

A home tie with QPR provides a timely chance for the team to re-discover their accuracy. QPR now look destined for the drop, after Charlie Austin’s missed penalty set up a goalless draw with West Ham. Seven goals in their last two on the road suggests they could give a dispirited Liverpool a scare, and Chris Ramsey will be desperate for points with time running out.

Key Players: Phillipe Coutinho, Matty Phillips.

Sunderland v Southampton 15:00

A second Conor Wickham goal in two games secured a draw for the Black Cats at the Brittania, but having slipped into the relegation zone much more will be required in the weeks ahead. Visits to Arsenal and Chelsea at the end of the season make this a must win match for Dick Advocaat’s team, but it is still difficult to see much upside in selecting Sunderland players in our PlayON teams.

The Saints led twice at St Mary’s against fellow European challengers Spurs. A brace from Graziano Pelle preserves a four game undefeated run at home but they have lost three in four on their travels.

Key Players: Conor Wickham, Graziano Pelle.

Swansea v Stoke 15:00

The Swans emerged victors in the 3-2 visit to Newcastle, a result which sets a record points tally in the Premier League for the Welsh side. Gylfi Sigursson and Nelson Oliviera both scored and provided assists – the latter effectively leading the line in the absence of Bafetimbi Gomis.

Stoke needed Charlie Adam’s third goal in four to retrieve a point against Sunderland. They will feel they should have secured all three after dominating most of the play. Mark Hughes’ side are without a win in three away from home. With the two sides 8th and 9th in the table, the Potters will be intent on overtaking Swansea. A 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture suggests another fierce encounter is on the cards.

Key Players: Nelson Oliveira, Charlie Adam.

West Ham v Burnley 15:00

A 0-0 draw at QPR for Sam Allardyce’s team was hardly a surprise given their away form. They haven’t managed a win in ten, and have failed to score in six of those matches. The Hammers have stagnated and with the comfort of mid-table security are unlikely to exhibit much more fight this season.

Burnley’s inability to put the ball in the net has consigned them to the Championship, a single goal in eight matches arriving six games ago. The defeat to Leicester City, their third successive 1-0 loss, was defined by a missed penalty and sums up the lack of edge that warrants little attention of their players in the final weeks.

Key Players: Aaron Creswell, Danny Ings.

Man Utd v West Brom 17:30

The 3-0 failure at Goodison was United’s worst loss of the season, and following the defeat to Chelsea marks the first time Louis van Gaal has lost back-to-back games this term. A backlash appears likely on their return to Old Trafford after those frustrations on the road.

Six straight wins at home for the Red Devils, five of those with United scoring three or more, indicates West Brom repeating the clean sheet they produced against Liverpool is highly improbable. Robin Van Persie and Falcoa could be profitable differentials here with Wayne Rooney’s fitness in doubt.

Key Players: Daley Blind, Craig Dawson.

Sun 3 May 2015 – Premier League

Chelsea v Crystal Palace 13:30

After stifling Arsenal 0-0 at the Emirates, Chelsea visited Leicester City and moved one step closer to the title with a convincing 3-1 triumph. The Champion’s medals will head to Jose Mourinho’s side if they beat Crystal Palace and the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is set to make it a challenging afternoon for Palace.

The Eagles have lost their last two matches a dip in form that supplies another reason for backing Chelsea players ahead of this tie. Eden Hazard has unusually failed to score or assist in back-to-back games for only the second time since October.

Key Players: Eden Hazard, Mile Jedinak.

Tottenham v Man City 16:00

Spurs required two equalisers against Southampton to finish with a 2-2 draw at St Mary’s and conserve a one point lead over their south coast rivals. Nacer Chadli scored his tenth of the season, and in-form attacking players will be crucial here, as one clean sheet in eleven for Tottenham makes Hugo Lloris’ chance of a shut-out appear slim.

However, City have been awful on the road of late with four successive defeats, a late-minute Fernandinho goal was required to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and signals this could be an end-to-end thriller.

Key Players: Nacer Chadli, Sergio Aguero.

Mon 4 May 2015 – Premier League

Hull v Arsenal 20:00

Hull should be more confidant than usual when they welcome Arsenal to the KC Stadium, after defeating Liverpool 1-0 with a well-organised display. The Tigers had also dispatched an adventurous Crystal Palace side 2-0 at Selhurst Park courtesy of a Dame N’Doye brace in the preceding fixture, but the odds are stacked against them to repeat those results here.

Arsenal dropped their first points in nine matches after being suppressed by Chelsea at the Emirates. Nine straight wins away from the Emirates before that score-less game indicates Arsene Wenger’s players are worth selecting in our PlayON squads once again.